Health Beliefs of Women With and Without Breast Cancer Seeking Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment

Genetic cancer risk assessment (GCRA) is increasingly being incorporated into clinical care. Planning supportive nursing care for women seeking GCRA requires knowledge of their health beliefs. We described and compared the cancer risk-related beliefs of 134 women with a personal history of breast cancer (affected group) and 80 women without breast cancer who had a family history of the disease (unaffected group), prior to risk assessment, using a mailed survey. This article reports their demographics, health characteristics, family history, and beliefs about cancer risk, risk factors, and genetic testing. Most participants were in their 40s (mean age = 47.9), Caucasian (79%), married (66%), and college-educated (60%), and had children (78%). Most women (87%) had a close relative with breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. In general, both groups greatly overestimated near-term and lifetime cancer risk. Significantly more unaffected women believed they were at higher risk for breast cancer than affected women. Both groups expressed desire for, but lacked knowledge of, genetic testing. Nurses are in a prime position to assist women seeking GCRA by providing accurate information and emotional support regarding cancer risk, risk factors, and genetic testing.